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Updated: Jul 8, 2026
Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
Relationships among premorbid alcohol use, acute intoxication, and early functional status after traumatic brain
Chad D Vickery1, Mark Sherer, Todd G Nick
1Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. cvickery@mmrcrehab.org
Objective:
To investigate the relationships among intoxication at time of injury, preinjury history of problem drinking, and early functional status in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Acute inpatient TBI rehabilitation.
Participants:
Participants were 1748 persons with TBI.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
Blood alcohol levels (BALs) were obtained at admission to the emergency department, and a history of problem drinking was obtained through interview. Study outcomes, Disability Rating Scale (DRS), and FIM instrument scores were gathered at admission to inpatient rehabilitation.
Results:
Multivariate regression analysis revealed that BAL and a history of binge drinking were predictive of DRS, but not FIM, scores. A higher BAL was associated with poorer functional status on the DRS. Paradoxically, a history of binge drinking was associated with more intact functional status on the DRS.
Conclusions:
The relationships among intoxication at time of injury, history of problem drinking, and early outcome after TBI were modest. Injury severity had a more significant association with TBI functional status.
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